The Descent of Man

myriad ova with which they are laden, which
he then protects and guards with the greatest
care." (26. 'Nature,' May 1873, p. 25.)
A more striking case of courtship, as well as of
display, by the males of a Chinese Macropus
has been given by M. Carbonnier, who carefully
observed these fishes under confinement.
(27. 'Bulletin de la Societe d'Acclimat.' Paris,
July 1869, and Jan. 1870.) The males are most
beautifully coloured, more so than the females.
During the breeding-season they contend for
the possession of the females; and, in the act of
courtship, expand their fins, which are spotted
and ornamented with brightly coloured rays, in
the same manner, according to M. Carbonnier,
as the peacock. They then also bound about the
females with much vivacity, and appear by
"l'etalage de leurs vives couleurs chercher a
attirer l'attention des femelles, lesquelles ne
paraissaient indifferentes a ce manege, elles
nageaient avec une molle lenteur vers les males